Two switch control system for measuring minimum size articles moving in closely following succession

ABSTRACT

A circuit for locating fractional lengths of articles moving on a belt in synchronization with high and low rate pulses having a 2: 1 ratio. First, second and third counters having equal count capacities are provided. A low pulse rate is applied to the first counter so that it accumulates a count representative of the full length of an article. A very high repetitive frequency pulse train is then applied to all three counters until the count capacity of the first counter is filled thereby leaving an unfilled count capacity on the second and third counters representative of the full length of an article as measured by the low pulse rate. By then applying the high rate pulse to the second counter, the midlength of the article may be located. By applying the low pulse rate to the third counter while the high pulse rate is applied to the second counter and then applying the high pulse rate to the third counter, the quarter-length of the article may be located.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,552,737

[72] Invent r Rllmlll! 3,363,897 1/1968 Northern et al. 270/84Cincinnati, Ohio 3,485,492 12/1969 lltis 270/84 [2]] p 800640 PrimaryExaminer-Robert W. Michell [22] Filed Feb. 19, 1969 A ssismntExammerPaul V. Williams [451 Paemed Attorney-Richard c Ru pin [73]Assignee McGraw-Edison Company p Elgin, Ill. I M

acorporamm ofnelaware ABSTRACT: A circuit for locating fractionallengths of articles moving on a belt in synchronization with high andlow I 54] Two SWITCH CONTROL SYSTEM FOR rate pulses having a 2: 1 ratio.First, second and third counters MEASURING MINIMUM SIZE ARTICLES MOVINGhaving equal count capacities are prov ded. A low pulse rate is INCLOSELY FOLLOWING SUCCESSION applied to the first counter so that itaccumulates a count representative of the full length of an article. Avery high 18 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. repetitive frequency pulse train isthen applied to all three U.S. counters until the count capacity'of thefirst counter is t thereby leaving an unfilled count capacity on thesecond and [5 u counters represenative of the length of an article as[50] Field of Search 270/69, 80, measured by the low pulse rate By thenapplying the high ram 81, 85; 324/68C pulse to the second counter, themidlength of the article may be located. By applying the low pulse rateto the third counter [56] References cued while the high pulse rate isapplied to the second counter and UNITED STATES PATENTS then applyingthe high pulse rate to the third counter, the 3,242,342 3/1966 Gabar250/223 quarter-length of the article may be located.

PATENTEUJAN SIS?! 3552,73?

SHEET 1 BF 2 TWO SWITCH CONTROL SYSTEM FOR MEASURING MINIMUM SIZEARTICLES MOVING IN CLOSELY FOLLOWING SUCCESSION This invention relatesto apparatus and a method for locating predetermined positions along thelength of an article. More; particularly, the invention is directed tocontrol apparatus for actuating a device for folding moving articles ata time related to the position and length of the article.

One type of folding device intended for use with the invention is alaundry folding machine for folding flat cloth articles traveling on acontinuous conveyor belt. Such folding machines are well known andtypically have at least one endless conveyor belt which carries anarticle past one or more measuring and folding stations. A folding meansis located at each folding station and is usually of an air blast ormechanical blade type. The article is measured as it moves past thefirst measuring station and is then folded at the foldingstation. Themeasuring and folding operation is repeated by the machine as many timesas desired at additional measuring and folding stations for each fold.

There have been various types of control arrangements suggested by theprior art for use in measuring and folding a moving article in a laundryfolding machine. These have included mechanical apparatus such asmultispeed motor driven timers, moving measuring stations, and two-speedmotor driven conveyor belts. More recently, control circuits employingelectromechanical relays and vacuum tube analogue electronic timingmethods or solid state digital timing methods have been used. An exampleof a digital control circuit is disclosed in copending Application Ser.No. 667,877, filed Aug. 14, 1967, now Pat. No. 3,485,492, and assignedto the assignee of the instant invention. Such control circuits includeat least one sensor for each fold to be'made which senses the presenceof the article moving on the conveyor belt. In general, the length ofthe article is measured by determining the time it takes to move past afirst sensor at one time measuring rate-or by determining the number ofpulses per unit of length. The time measuring rate or pulse repetitionrate is then increased when the article reaches a second sensor untilthe total time or total number of pulses of the measuring .cycle iscompleted. The two measuring rates are so related that when the cycle iscompleted, the position at which a fold is to be made in the articlewill be opposite the folding means ofthe folding machine. Completing ofthe measuring cycle causes the control circuit to actuate the foldingmeans to fold the moving article. If a second fold is desired, a thirdsensor is provided and the foregoing measuring or counting and foldingsteps are substantially repeated at a third sensor and second foldingstation.

In the control circuit disclosed in the aforementioned copendingApplication Ser. No. 667,877, first, second and third-article sensorspositioned along the path of travel of a moving article are provided. Afull length measuring counter, a first fold counter and a second foldcounter respectively corresponding to the first, second and thirdsensors are also pro vided. When the leading edge of an article reachesthe first sensor, a repetitive pulse is applied-to the first and thirdcounters. At the same time, the second counter must remain free toreceive a repetitive pulse for use in making the first fold. The first,second and third counters thus become occupied at the time the articleis initially present at the first sensor and the third counter remainsoccupied until it produces a signal actuating the second fold of thearticle and simultaneously clears itself. A problem in this type ofcontrol, which is typical in electronic folder controls, is that thecircuitry for the last fold isimmediately tied up upon the initialpresence of an article at the first sensor. This decreases the number ofarticles the control can simultaneously handle or, stated in analternative way, increases the minimum article length which the controlcan measure. Stated generally, the solution to the problem lies inminimizing the utilization of the logic circuitry associatedwitheach'measuring operationof each article while the remainder of thecontrol is performing a different operation with respect to the article.

lt is a principal object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for measuring and locating predetermined positions along thelength of a moving article. A further object of the invention is toprovide a control circuit for measuring a moving articleand indicatingthe presence of a plurality of predetermined positions along the lengthof the article in which the logic circuitryqusedin the. measurement ofone position isshared in the m easurement of another position. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved controlcircuit for measuring a moving article and indicating the presence of aplurality of predetermined positions along the length of the article inwhich the time of utilization of logic circuitry used to measure andindicate one position -is'- minimized by utilizing logic circuitry usedto measure and indicate another position to perform par'tof themeasuring function for the one position simultaneously with themeasuring of the other position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control circuit formeasuring a moving article and indicating the' presence of a pluralityof predetermined positions along the length of the article and utilizingonly two sensors for sensing the presence of the article. I .1

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry ar cle foldercontrol for measuring a movinglaundry articleand actuating the making ofa plurality of folds therein and having a plurality of measuringlocations spaced apart along the path of travel of the article andcircuitry corresponding to each measuring location in which thecircuitry at the last measuring location along the path-of the articleis' utilized for measuring an article at the first measuring locationalong the path only when the article leaves the first measuringlocation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a laundry folder controlfor measuring a moving laundry article and-actuating a plurality offolds therein and having a plurality of measuring locations spaced apartalongthe path of travel of the article in which one of the measuringlocations is posi-. tioned at the initial position of the leading edgeof-the foldedarticle.

In the embodiment of the invention shown and described herein, first,second and third digital electronic countersaa re provided. Each ofthese counters have an equal maximum. count capacity. High and first lowrate electrical pulsestare generated and applied to one of the countersin respons'e'ito the presence of a flat cloth article moving at aconstant rate. past one of two sensors positioned at first and secondlocations along the path of travel of the moving article. A second lowelectrical pulse rate is produced and applied 'to the third electroniccounter while the article is moving past the second of. the sensors. Therates of the electrical pulses relative'to each other are determined bythe position which is to be located or the position at which a fold isto be made along the length of the article and the time during which thepulses are applied to the counters, e.g., if a fold is to be made at themidlength and quarter-length of an article, the low pulse rates will beonehalf that of the high rate with the second low rate being appliedtothe third counter for only one-fourth the time the first. low rate isapplied to the first counter. If it is desired to make a second fold atthe other than the quarterlength of the article, a pulse rate higher orlower than the second low pulse rate and lower than the high pulse rateis applied to the third-counter.

While the moving article is at the first of the two sensors, the 1 firstlow rate pulse is applied to the first counter. The second. and thirdcounters remain free for use in connection with me'asuring of precedingarticles. Upon the passing of the article from the first sensor, thefirst low pulse rate is disconnected from the first counter and a highfrequency oscillator is con-: nected to all three counters until thecount capacity of the-first counter is filled. The first counter nowresets itself to zero. count. The second and third counters both have anunfilled: count capacity equal to the number of'counts accumulated onthe first counter while connected to the first low pulse rate pulses.When the article moves to the second of the sensors...

the high rate pulses are applied to the second counter until the maximumcount capacity of the second counter is filled. The second counter thenresets itself to zero count and produces ;an output signal whichactuates a time delay means. Since the high rate pulses have a ratetwice that of the low rate pulses which were applied to the firstcounter. the midpoint of the article will be opposite the second sensorwhen the maximum count capacity of the second counter is filled and theoutput signal actuating the time delay means is produced. The time delaymeans provides a time delay which allows the midpoint of the article tomove to a third predetermined location which also may be considered asthe first fold location. When the article midpoint reaches the firstfold location, the time delay means produces an output signal to actuatea first fold mechanism which folds the article at its midpoint. Becausethe article is folded relatively rapidly, the leading edge of thearticle after it is folded will be substantially at the third location.

While the article is beneath the second sensor and the high rate pulsesare applied to the second counter, the second counter produces thesecond low pulse rate which is equal to the first low pulse rate if thearticle is to be folded a second time at its quarter-length. The secondlow pulse rate is applied to the third counter so that, in effect, thesecond counter and associated logic circuitry control the third counterand the measurement for the second fold until the first fold is made.Since the second pulse rate is applied to the third counter only untilthe midpoint of the article reaches the second sensor, the third counterwill have a count capacity remaining unfilled at the time the high ratepulses are disconnected from the second counter equal to one-half thenumber of counts accumulated on the first counter while connected to thefirst low pulse rate. The output signal from the time delay means isalso utilized to initiate application of the high pulse rate to thethird counter so that the high rate pulse is initially applied to thethird counter substantially when the leading edge of the once foldedarticle is at the third location. Since the output signals from thesecond counter and time delay means control initial application of thehigh pulse rate to the third counter, another sensor for this purpose isnot necessary. The high rate pulse is applied to the third counter untilits remaining unfilled count capacity is filled at which time themidpoint of the once folded article is at the third location. The thirdcounter then resets itself to zero count and produces an output signalwhich actuates a second time delay means. The second time delay meansprovides a time delay until the midpoint of the fold article is at asecond fold location and then actuates a second folding mechanism tofold the article at the midpoint of its folded length, i.e., at itsquarter-length.

Closely following articles of short length are measured and folded byproviding a plurality of second counters and a plurality of thirdcounters respectively equal to the number n that satisfies the equationwhere L min length of the shortest article to be folded,

D distance between the first sensor and the second folding location, and

n the number of second counters and also the number of third counters.After a first article has passed the first sensor at the first location,the first counter will reset itself to zero count to thereby prepare fora second immediately following article. The first article continues onto the second sensor at the second location where the high rate pulsesare applied to the same second counter that was connected to theoscillator when the trailing edge of the first article passed the firstsensor. At the same time, a low pulse rate output from the first bit ofthe second counter is fed into the same third counter that was chargedwith counts from the oscillator when the trailing edge of the firstarticle passed the first sensor. When the count capacity of the secondcounter is filled. the counter emits a pulse indicating the midpoint ofthe article and actuating a pulse from the counter. the pulse actuatesthe time delay circuit allowing the midpoint of the article to positionitself at the first folding location. The instant the folding of thefirst article is started in response to a signal from the time delaycircuit, the high rate pulses are applied to the same third counter thatwas charged with counts from the oscillator when the trailing edge ofthe first article passed the first sensor. The moment the same thirdcounter is full, a pulse is emitted and fed into a delay circuit thatpermits the article to position its midpoint at the second foldingpoint. This sequence of operation is repeated with each closelyfollowing short article. A shift register means and selector means areutilized with both the second counters and the third counters to matchthe same second counter and the same third counter with a particulararticle when the article passes the first and second sensors and thethird location.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description and drawings which forma part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a laundry folding machine illustratingthe conveyor belts and folding mechanism; and

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

With reference to FIG. 2, the connection to the control circuit 42 of asource of positive DC voltage, indicated by the symbol V is controlledby the sensors 28 and 30. The sensors 28 and 30 may be of any suitabletype well known in the art such as a mechanical switch or a photocell.When a laundry article is not present at the sensor 28, no gating signalis carried to the control circuit 42 on lead 27. When a laundry articleis present at the sensor 28, the sensor 28 becomes operative to connecta DC gating signal to the control circuit 42 on lead 27. When a laundryarticle is not present at the sensor 30, the sensor 30 connects thepositive DC voltage V to the circuit 42 on lead 31. When a laundryarticle is present at sensor 30, it disconnects the DC voltage V fromthe circuit 42 and discharges any residual voltage on circuit 42 due tothe previous voltage connection.

A pulse generator in the form of an incremental encoder 46 is providedfor generating voltage pulses at a fixed rate per inch of article lengthin synchronization with the rate of travel of the laundry articles onthe conveyor belts. The encoder 46 may be driven by the drive means (notshown) for the rollers shown in FIG. 1, or the encoder 46 may be drivenby independent drive means synchronized with the drive rate of .therollers. The voltage pulses may be generated at a rate per unit oftravel of the laundry articles dictated primarily by the maximum lengthof the laundry articles to be folded and the precision with which it isdesired to locate the fold. In the embodiment of the invention describedherein, a pulse rate of 20 pulses per inch of article travel isutilized.

A frequency or rate divider 48 and a summing network 50 are connectedbetween the encoder 46 and an input of AND gate 52. The divider 48divides the pulse rate received at its input at a ratio of 2:1 so thatthe pulse rates respectively available from the encoder 46 and thedivider 48 when gate 52 is open are 20 pulses per inch of article traveland 10 pulses per inch of article travel.

A front counter 58 has an input connected through summing network 60 tothe output of AND gate 52 and an output connected through one-shotmultivibrator 62 to an input of flip-flop 64. The flip-flop 64 is aconventional type of flip-flop which is turned ON and will remain ON tocontinuously produce an output signal when a signal is applied at aninput and which is turned OFF to stop producing the output signal when asignal is applied to another input. The front counter 58 has a maximumcount capacity which may be set at a value capable of handling thelongest size article which it is desired to fold. The front counter 58counts in response to voltage pulses applied to it and when its maximumcount capacity is filled it will reset itself to zero count and producean output signal.

I The elements shown in logic block 66 of FIG. 2 include shift registers68 and 70, first selector means54, second selector means 84 and firstfold counters 72", 74 and 76. Theshift register 68 has an inputconnected through diode 78 and oneshot multivibrator 62 to the frontcounter 58 and two output leads 80 and 82 connected to the selector'means 84. The

selector means 84 is provided with output leads 93, 95 and 97 and is ofa type well known in the art which functions to sequentially produce anoutput signalonone of the leads 93,

95 and 97 in response to the presence or absence of an input signal fromthe shift register 68 on leads 8 0 and 82. The output leads 93, 95 and97 are respectively connected to inputs of AND gates 86, 88 and 90. TheAND gates 86, 88 and 90 are of the type that is normally closed when nogating signal is present at an input. Each of the AND gates 86,88 and 90also have a second input commonly connected to the output of AND gate92. The output of AND gates 86, 88 and 90 are nected to the selectormeans 54. The selector means 54 has output leads 113, 115 and 117 andalso'is of a type well known in the art which functions to sequentiallyproduce an output signal on oneof the leads 113, 115 and 117 in responseto the presence or absence of an input signal from the shift register 70on leads 100 and 102. The output leads 113, 115 and 117 are respectivelyconnected to inputs of AND gates 106, 108.

and 110. The AND gates 106, 108 and 110 are of the type that is closedwhen all requiredgating signals are not present at their inputs. Asecond input of each bf the AND gates 106, 108 and 110 is connectedthrough summing network 50 to the I generator 46. The outputs of the ANDgates 106, 108 and 110 are respectively connected to aninput of each ofthe AND gates 112, 114 and 116. The outputs of AND gates 112, 114 and116 are respectively connected to the inputs of the first fold counters72, 74 and 76. The AND gates 112, 114 and 116 are of the type that isclosed when asignal is present at a gating input.

Each of the shift registers 68 and 70 in logic block 66 of FIG. 2 areidentical in construction and operation. Each shift register 68 and 70is connected to a synchronizer 118 which is of a type well known in theart and which shifts both of the shift registers 68 and 70 into the samestate so that only one of the output leads 93, 95 and 97 and acorresponding one of the output leads 113, 115 and 117 will. carry asignal when the control circuit 42 is initially energized; For example,in the initial state chosen for the control circuit 42, the output lead93 associated with shift register 68 will carry a signal and the outputlead 113 associated with shift register 70 will carry a signal while theremainder of the output'leads 95, 97, 115 and 117 will not carry asignal. The synchronizing means 118 has an input connected to theoscillator 174, two inputs respectively connected to output leads 93 and117 of selector means 84 and 54 and outputs connected through diodes 131and .109 to shift registers 70 and 68. When the circuit 42 is initiallyenergized, the very high frequency pulse rate from the oscillator 174will be gated through synchronizer 118 to shift registers 68 and 70until the synchronizer 118 receives simultaneous signals from the outputleads 93 and117.

The shift registers 120 and 122, selector means 136 and 156 and secondfold counters 124, 126 and 128 are shown in logic block 67 of FIG. 2.The shift registers 120 and 122 are respectively connected to selectormeans 136 and 156 and are identical in construction and operationwitheach other and with shift registers 68 and 70. The shift register 120has an input connected through diode 130 and one-shot multivibrator 62to the front counter 58 and two output leads 132 and 134 connected tothe selector means 136. The selector means 136 is provided with outputleads 145, 147 and 149 and func-.

134. The output leads 145, 147 and 149 are respectively connected toinputs of AND gates 138, 140 and 142. The AND gates 138, 140 and 142 areof the type that is normally closed when no gating signal is present atan input. The AND gates 138, 140 and 142 each also havea second inputcommonly connected to the output of AND gate 92. The outputs of ANDgates 138, 140 and 142 are each connected to the input of the secondfold counters 124, 126 and 128. The outputs of second fold counters 124,126 and 128 are respectively fed through one-shot multivibrators 146,148 and and are commonly connected to an input of flip-flop 144. Theflip-flop 144 is of the same construction and operates in the samemanner as the flip-flop 64, previously described.

A synchronizer 170, identical in construction and operation with thesynchronizer 118 shown in logic block 66, is illustrated in logic block67. The function of the synchronizer 170 is to shift both of the shiftregisters 120 and 122 into the same state when the control circuit 42 isinitially energized. When the shift registers 120 and 122 are in thesame state, one of the output leads 145, 147 and 149 and a correspondingone of the output leads 165, 167 and 169 willcarry a signal when thecontrol circuit 42 is initially energized. The example given in thedescription for the synchronizer 118 also holds true for thesynchronizer 170, Le, in the initial state of the shift registers 120and 122, the output lead 145 and the output lead will each carry anoutput signal, while the remaining output leads 147, 149, 167 and 169will not carry an output signal. The synchronizing means 170 includes aninput connected to the output lead 145 of selector means 136, an inputconnected to the output lead 169 of selector means 156 and an inputconnected to the oscillator 174. The synchronizing means 170 has anoutput connected through diode 151 to the shift register 120 and anoutput connected throughdiode 171 to the shift register 122. For a moredetailed description of selector means 54, 84, 136 and 156 andsynchronizers 118 and 170, reference is made to copending ApplicationSer. No. 667,877, filed Aug. 14, 1967, and assigned to theassignee ofthe instant invention. 1 f' The lead 27 associated with sensor 28 isshown in FIG. 2 connected to an input of AND gate 52. The AND gate 52 isarranged to be closed when no signal from the positive DC voltage V ispresent at its input and open when a laundry article passes sensor 28and the positive DC voltage V is applied to the input of AND gate 52.The lead 27 is also connected to trailing edge signal amplifier 172which in'turn is connected to aninput of flip-flop 64. The output offlip-flop 64 is connected to an input of AND gate 92. The AND gate 92 isof the type that is open when a signal is present at all gatinginputsand closed when any input signal is lacking. The oscillator 174provides a source of very high frequency pulses and is connected toanother input of the AND gate 92. The frequency of the pulses suppliedby theoscillator 174 should be high relative to the frequency of thepulses obtained from generator 46 and it has been determined that anoscillator frequency of 500 kilocycles per second is satisfactory. The.output of AND gate 92 is fed through summing network 60 to front counter58, to

an input of AND gates 86, 88and 90 in block 66 and to an input ofANDgates 138, 140 and 142 in block 67.

The lead 31 associated with sensor 30 is connected to an input of theAND gates 112, 114 and 116 in block 66. The AND gates 112, 114 and 116are closed when the positive DC voltage V is applied to each of theirinputs and open when the DC voltage V is removed from each of theirinputs, i.e., when a laundry article is present at sensor 30. As statedabove, the outputs of first fold counters 72, 74 and 76 are commonlyconnected to an input of time delay means 56. The time delay means 56also has an output lead 35 connected through diode 208 to the foldingmeans 34. When an output signal from any one of the counters 72,74 and76 is applied to the time delay means 56, the time delay means 56provides a time delay followed by an output signal which actuates thefirst l'old mechanism 34 to fold the moving laundry article. Thefunction of the time delay means 56 is to delay a folding of the laundryarticle until its midpoint has passed sensor 30 and moved in front offirst fold mechanism 34. In this manner, the time delay means 56 alsofunctions to position the fold of the article so that the folded edge ofthe article is positioned at the measuring location 32 (see FIG. 1)where measuring for the second fold is initiated.

The first fold logic shown in logic block 66 of FIG. 2 is shared withthe second fold logic of logic block 67 so that the making of the secondfold is controlled, in part, by the elements in first fold logic block66. This sharing is accomplished by connecting the elements of logicblocks 66 and 67 together I 7 through AND gates 119, 121 and 123. Asseen in FIG. 2, the

AND gates 119, 121 and 123 respectively have output leads 133, 135 and137 connected to the inputs of second fold counters 124, 126 and 128oflogic block 67. The first fold counters '72, 74 and 76 of logic block66 respectively have output leads first bits of the first fold counters72, 74 and 76 so that a pulse rate is applied to the inputs of the gates119, 121 and 123 which is equal to one-half of the pulse rate applied tothe input of first fold counters 72, 74 and 76. The construction andoperation of digital counters such as counters 72, 74 and 76 is wellknown in the art and will not be discussed in detail here. The gates119, 121 and 123 are of the type which are turned ON when a signal ispresent at all of their inputs so that when one of the inputs of gates119, 121 and 123 receives a signal from one of the output leads 113, 115or 117 of selector means 54 and a laundry article is present at sensor30, a repetitive pulse rate from one of the first fold counters will begated through one of the gates 119, 121 and 123 to a correspondingsecond fold counter. In this manner, there is a sharing of first andsecond fold logic functions and the measuring of the article for asecond fold is controlled by the elements in logic block 66. Forexample, when an article is present at sensor 30 and lead 113 ofselector means 54 is carrying a signal, a repetitive pulse of 20 pulsesper inch of article travel will be applied to the first fold counter 72and the counter 72 will produce a repetitive pulse of pulses per inch ofarticle travel at the output of its first bit which is applied to thesecond fold counter 124 through AND gate 119.

As previously stated, when one of the first fold counters 72, 74 or 76in logic block 66 produces an output signal indicating that the countcapacity of the counter is filled and that the midpoint of the articleat sensor 30 has been reached, the time delay means 56 provides a timedelay and then produces an output signal on lead 35 which actuates afolding operation. The output lead 35 is also connected to an input offlip-flop 144 so that a signal on output lead 35 turns the flip-flop 144ON to initiate gating ofthe high pulse per inch pulse rate to one of thesecond fold counters 124, 126 or 128 in logic block 67. Measuring forthe second fold is thus further controlled by the first fold logic.Since initiation of the application of the high pulse rate to the secondfold counters substantially coincides with the folding of the article atthe first fold station which is also the third measuring location 32(see FIG. 1), the presence of the folded edge of thefolded article atthe location 32 will also substantially coincide with initiation ofgating of the high pulse rate to the second fold counters. In thismanner, the third measuring location 32 acts as a sensing or referenceposition for the measuring of the quarter-length of the laundry article.The output lead 33 of flip-flop 144 carries a low signal when theflip-flop is turned ON and the lead 33 is connected to an output of eachof the AND gates 164, 166 and 168. The AND gates 164, 166 and 168 are ofthe type that is open when a low gating signal is present at a gatinginput. The AND gates 164, 166 and 168 are thus closed when the flip-flop144 is turned OFF and a high signal is on the lead 33 and ON (open) whenthe low signal is on lead 33. The outputs of second fold counters 124,126 and 128 are connected to a second fold means 39. The second foldmeans 39 includes the diode 176, the second fold mechanism 36 and thedelay means 37. The delay means 37 serves to delay the. second foldingof the article until the article moves a predetermined distance from themeasuring location 32 to aposition where the midpoint of the foldedarticle is at the second fold point opposite the second fold mechanism36. .When an output signal is produced by any one of the second foldcounters 124, I26 and 128, the second fold mechanism 36 will be actuatedafter the time delay to make a second fold inthe article.

OPERATION OF CONTROL CIRCUIT AND FOLDER When the control circuit 42,shown in;FIG. 2, is initially energized, each of the output leads 80,82100, 102, 132, 134, 152 and 154 connecting the shift registers 68, 70,120 and 122 and their respective selector means84, 104, 136 and 156 mayor may not be carrying an output signal. Since each shift register andassociated selector means is identical in operation, only the operationof the shift register 68-and selector means 84 will be described. Aspreviously stated, the selector means are well known in the art and soonly a general description of their operation will be given. Thepossible energization conditions of the output leads and 82 of shiftregister 88 include a simultaneous signal on both leads 80 and 82, asignal present on lead 82 but not on lead 80 and a signalpresent on lead80 but not on lead 82. When both of the output leads 80 and 82 carry asignal, the selector means 84 produces an output signal on its lead 93which maintains AND gate 86 in an open condition. When a signal ispresent on output lead 82 but not on output lead 80, the selector means84 produces a signal on output lead 95 to maintain AND gate 88 in anopen condition. When an output signal is present on lead 82 but not onlead 80, the selector means 84 produces an output signal on-its lead 97which maintains AND gate 90 in an open condition. When a signal ispresent on any one of the output leads 93, and 97 of selector means 84so that an associated AND gate 86, 88 or 90 is open, the remaining twoleads of leads 93, 95 and 97 do not carry a signal so that the twoassociated AND gates are closed. It can thus be seen that as the shiftregister 68 shifts through its various conditions, the combination ofoutput signals available on the output leads 80 and 82 connected to theshift register 68 vary to sequentially open AND gates 86, 88 and 90. 1

When the control circuit 42 is initially energized it is desired thatcorresponding output leads associated with shift registers 68 and 70 andshift registers 120 and 122 be in the same condition. This, of course,also requires that corresponding output leads of selector means 84, 54,136 and 156 also be in the same condition. For example, the output leads93 and 113 should both carry a signal to maintain AND gates 86 and 106open, while output leads 95, 97, 115 and 117 should not carry a signalso that ANDgates 88, 90, 108 and 110 are closed. The synchronizers 118and 170, respectively shown in blocks 66 and 68, are well known in theart and are provided in order to attain this initial condition. Ingeneral, when the output leads 93 and 113 do not carry a signal uponinitial energization of the circuit 42, the synchronizing means 118 willapply the pulse frequency from oscillator 174 to the shift registers 68and 70 until the shift registers attain their output states which resultin the presence of a signal on both leads 93 and 113. When thiscondition is reached, the synchronizing means will cease supplying thehigh frequency pulses to the shift register means while the circuit 42continues energized regardless of the subsequent presence or absence ofa signal on either of output leads 93 or 113. The shift registers 68 and70 are now in identical states in which the corresponding output leads93 and 113 both carry a signal and their associated AND gates 86maintain AND gate 138 and inan open condition. Also, upon energizationof the control circuit 42, the front counter 58, the first fold counters72, 74, 76 and the second fold counters '124, 126 and 128 are allinitially at zero count. The generator 46 and the oscillator 174 areboth operating to provide the necessary pulse frequencies to controlcircuit 42.

When a first flat laundry article is placed on conveyor belt 4, it ismoved toward sensor 28 (see FIG; I). When the leading edge of thearticle reaches sensor 28, the positive DC voltage V is applied to theinput of AND gate 52 to open it. The pulse per inch pulse rate fromdivider 48 then passes through AND gate 52 and summing network 60 tocounter 58. The counter 58 accumulates one count for 'each pulsereceived from the IQ pulse per inch pulse rate during the time thearticle is present at sensor 28.

When the trailing edge of the article passes the sensor 28, the positiveDC voltage V is removed from the AND gate 52. The AND gate 52 is thusclosed and the 10 pulse per inch pulse rate is removed from counter 58.The count that has been accumulated by counter 58 is representative ofthe full length of the article. A second effect of the passing of thetrailing edge of the article from sensor 28 is the removal of thepositive DC voltage V from the flip-flop 64 to turn the flip-flop 64 ON.When the flip-flop is turned ON, it produces an output signal which isfed to an input of AND gate 92 to open AND gate 92. With AND gate 92open, the 500 kilocycle per second frequency from oscillator 174, is fedthrough the AND gate 92 and summing network 60 to counter 58, to theinputs of AND gates 86, 88 and 90 in block 66 and to the inputs of ANDgates 138, 140 and 142 in block 67. Since AND gates 86 and 138 are stillopen, the 500 kilocycle per second frequency will pass through them tocounters 72 and 124. The front counter 58 accumulates one count for eachpulse of the 500 kilocycle per second pulse frequency until the maximumcount capacity of the front counter 58 is filled. Thefront counter 58then simultaneously resets itself to zero count and produces an outputsignal which is amplified through one-shot multivibrator 62 and fed to asecond input of flip-flop 64 to output signal is removed from AND gate92 to close AND gate 92 and stop the feeding of the 500 kilocycle persecond pulse from oscillator 174 to front counter 58 and counters 72 and124. The output signal from front counter 58 is also fed through diodes78 and 130 to shift the shift registers 68 and I into their next state.The shift register68 will now cause a signal to be carried on outputlead 95 to an output of AND gate 88 to open AND gate 88. The AND gate 90in block 66 remains closed and the AND gate 86-is now closed. In block67, the shift register 120 is shifted into its second state by theoutput signal from front counter 58 so that a signal is fed to outputlead 147 and the input of AND gate 140 to open AND gate 140. The ANDgate 142 remains closed and the AND gate 138 is now closed. The firstfold counter 72 and second fold counter 124 at this time each have anaccumulated count equal to the portion of the maximum count capacity ofthe front counter 58 that was not filled by the 10 pulse per inch pulserate when the article was present at the sensor 28. Thus, the number ofcounts respectively remaining on the'first fold counter 72 and secondfold counter 124 is representative of the full length of the articlemeasured at a 10 pulse per inch rate.

In the event that the article is longer than the distance between thesensors 28 and 30, the article will reach sensor before the trailingedge of the articlepasses sensor 28. As described in detail hereinafter,the presence of an article at sensor 30 will cause connection of the 20pulse per inch pulse rate to one of the first fold counters, forexample, counter 72. Under the condition where the article is present atboth sensors 28 and 30, the front counter 58 continues to receive the [0pulse per inch pulse rate until the trailing edge of the article leavessensor 28. When the trailing edge of the article passes sensor 28, the500 kilocycle per second' frequency is applied to the counter 72simultaneously with the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate. Because of thehigh rate of the 500 kilocycle per second frequency, it will overridethe 20 pulse per inch pulse rate, although only for a very shortduration. Due to this short time, no essential information is lost andcounter 72 will accept the 500 kilocycle per second frequency and thencontinue to receive the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate until its maximumcount capacity is filled. I

Upon the passing of the first article from sensor 28. the maximum countcapacity of front counter 58 is filled by oscillator I74 practicallyinstantaneously relative to the speed of movement of the article onconveyor belt 4 and to the pulse rates supplied by the generator 46 anddivider 48. As a result, the front counter 58 is immediately reset uponthe passing of the first article from sensor 28 and there is virtuallyno spacing requirement between the first article and a second closelyfollowing article. The resetting of the front counter 58 readies it fora second article.

As the second article is passing sensor 28 the positive DC voltage V isagain applied to the input ofAND gate 52 to open it to the passage ofthe 10 pulse per inch pulse rate. The operation of the circuit for thesecond article is exactly the same as it was for the first articleexcept that since AND gate 88 in block 66 and AND gate 140 in block 67are now open, pulses from the generator 46 and the oscillator 174 willnow be applied to first fold counter 74 and pulses from oscillator 174will be applied to second fold counter 126. Upon the passing of thetrailing edge of the second article from the sensor 28, the AND gate 52will close and the flip-flop 64 will be turned ON to open AND gate 92.The 500 kilocycle per second pulse from oscillator 174 will then beconnected to front counter 58, first fold counter 74 and second foldcounter I26 until the front counter 58 is filled. The front counter 58then resets itself to zero count to be ready for a third followingarticle and produces an output signal which turns flip-flop 64 OFF andshifts shift registers 68 and 120 to their next state. The AND gate inblock 66 and the AND gate 142 in block 67 now each have a signal at oneof their inputs to hold them in an open condition. The portion of thecount capacities now remaining unfilled on first fold counter 74 andsecond fold counter 126 will be representative of the full length of thesecond article measured at a 10 pulse per inch rate.

The operation of the control circuit 42 inmeasuring the full length of athird closely following article is again the same as for the first andsecond articles. Upon the passing of the trailing edge of the thirdarticle from the-sensor 28 the unfilled portions of the maximum countcapacity of the first fold counter 76 and second fold counter 128 willbe representative of the full length of the third article measured at a10 pulse per inch rate.

In the control circuit 42 shown in FIG. 2, the maximum capacity ornumber of closely following short articles that may be handled is threearticles, i.e., the lengths of three closely following short articlesmay be measured before the leading one of the three articles must befolded to make available fold counters for a fourth closely followingshort article. It will be readily apparent that more than three closelyfollowing short articles can be measured before the leading one isfolded merely by providing additional first fold and second foldcounters and additional outputs from the associated shift registerstogether with the necessary gating means.

It should be readily understood that during normal operation of thecontrol circuit 42 the articles being folded will not always be closelyfollowing and will not necessarily all be short articles or longarticles, but may be articles of mixed length spaced at variousdistances. For example, a first article may be passing sensor 30 inpreparation for its second fold while a second long article is stillmoving past'sensor 28. The only limitations on the operation of thecontrol circuit 42 are that the maximum length of an article must not besuch that its midlength passes sensor 30 before its trailing edge passessensor 28 and the closely following shortarticle limitation, previouslymentioned. For purposes of best describing the operation of the controlcircuit 42, however, the measuring of the full lengths of the maximumnumber of closely following articles that the control circuit 42 willhandle has been described. Clarity in the description is added byseparately describing the folding operation of these articles.

When the leading edge of the first article reaches sensor 30, thepositive DC voltage V is applied to an input of each of the AND gates112, 114 and 116. Since the shift register 70 is still in its initialstate in which a signal is fed by output lead 113 to an input AND gate106, the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate from generator 46 will passthrough AND gate 106 to AND gate 112. The AND gate 112 has been openedby the application to one of its inputs of the positive DC voltage V andtherefore the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate will be gated by it to firstfold counter 72. The first fold counter 72 will make one count for eachpulse of the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate. As previously stated, thecount capacity remaining on the first fold counter 72 is representativeof the full length of the first article measured at a pulse per inchrate. Since the pulse per inch pulse rate being applied to the firstfold counter 72 is twice the rate of the 10 pulse per inch pulse rateapplied to the front counter 58, the full count capacity of the firstfold counter 72 i will be filled and an output signal produced when themidpoint of the first article is present at the sensor 30. When themaximum count capacity of the first fold counter 72 is filled, it willalso reset itself to zero count. The output signal of the first foldcounter 72 is amplified by one-shot multivibrator 94 and connected to aninput of shift register 70 to shift the shift register 70 into its nextstate in which an output signal is fed to an input of AND gate 108through output lead 115.

During the time the first article is present at the sensor and the 20pulse per inch pulse rate is being applied to first fold counter 72, tothe counter 72 produces a 10 pulse per inch pulse rate at an output ofitsvfirst bit (not shown). Since this 10 pulse per inch pulse rate isapplied to an input of AND gate 119 and since the signal from lead 113is also applied to an input of gate 119 while the first article ispresent at sensor 30, the 10 pulse per inch pulse rate from counter 72is gated to second fold counter 124 until counter 72 produces an outputsignal indicating the midpoint of the first article. Since the 10 pulseper inch pulse rate produced by the counter 72 is equal to the 10 pulseper inch pulse rate that was applied to the front counter 58, but thepulse rate from counter 72 is applied to second fold counter 124 foronly the time that one-half the first article length is present atsensor 30, the portion of the unfilled count capacity of second foldcounter 124 is representative ofthe one-half length of the first articlelength measured at a 10 pulse per inch rate.

From the operation of the control circuit 42 as described to this point,it can be readily seen that thesecond fold counters 124, 126 and 128 andcircuit components associated therewith such as shift register 120 andselector means 136 are not utilized in measuring an article at firstsensor 28 until the trailing edge of the article leaves the sensor 28.Sharing of the first and second fold logics by applying a 10 pulse perinch pulse rate to the second fold counters 124, 126 and 128 from one ofthe first fold counters for the time the article is present at secondsensor 30 rather than when the article is present at the first sensor 28results in the second fold counters 124, 126 and 128 being occupied onlywhen the trailing edge of the article leaves the first sensor 28 and the500'kilocycle per second pulse is applied to the second fold counters.In this manner, the second fold counters 124, 126 and 128 remain freefor a longer period of time per article so that the control 42 canhandle shorter length articles and/or a greater number of articles atthe same time.

As shown in FIG. 2, the output signal of the first fold counter 72 isfed to the time delay means 56 which, after providing a time delay,produces an output signal which actuates the first fold mechanism 34.The first fold mechanism 34 ,ejects an air blast at the first article tofoldit and move it into engagement with the conveyor belt 6 and theroller 16, as shown in FIG. 1. The time delay is such that folding isdelayed until the midpoint of the article has passed from sensor 30 andis in a position where the air blast can effectively make a fold. Thetime delay is also such that, upon the, completion of the fold, theleading edge of the once folded article will have moved along its pathof travel to the third measuring location indicated by arrow 32 in FIG.1

The output signal from the time delaycmeans56 also functions to turn theflip-flop 144 ON so that a low voltage signal appears on the output lead33 to the-gate 164 to initiate gating of the 20 pulse per inch pulserate from generator 46' to second fold counter 124. Applicationof the 20pulse per inch pulse rate and measuring of the onc'e f olded article-isthus initiated substantially at the time the leading edge ofthe foldedarticle reaches the third measuring location 32. Up until, the time theflip-flop 144 is tumed'ONand the article reaches location 32, themeasuring for the second fold is controlled by the first fold logic.After flip-flop 144 is turned ON and the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate isgated to the second fold counter. the second fold logic controls secondfold measuringflzl he 20 pulse per inch pulse rate from generator 46 isgated to the second fold counter 124 because theshift register 122 isstill in its initial state in which a signal is caused to be fed onoutp'ut lead 165 to an input of AND gate 158. The AND gate 158 is thusopen and the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate passes through it to the inputof AND gate 164. The second fold counter 124 makes one count for eachpulse of a pulse rate applied to it until its maximum count capacity isfilled when it resets itself to zero count and produces an outputsignal. Since the count capacity now remaining on the second foldcounter 124 is representative of one half of the length of the firstarticle and the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate now being appliedto it hasa rate twice that of the 10 pulse per inch pulse rate that was appliedto the front counter 58, the maximum count capacity of the second foldcounter 124 will be filled when one fourth of the full length of thefirst article has passed the measuring lo' cation 32, i.e., when themidpoint of the once folded first article is directly opposite thelocation 32..The output signal of the second fold counter 124 is appliedto delay means 37 and is fed through one-shot multivibrator 146 andconnected to an input of shift register 122 and to flip-flop 144 to turnflip-flop 144 OFF. The application of the output signal of the secondfold counter 124 to the shift register 122 shifts the shift register 122to its next state in which a signal is fed by output lead 167 to aninput of the AND gate 160. After a time delay by delay means 37sufficient to allow movement of the midpoint of the folded article to afolding position adjacent the folding mechanism 36, a folding signal isapplied by the delay means 37 to the second fold mechanism 36. Thesecond fold mechanism 36 is thus actuated and caused to apply an airblast to the firstarticle to fold the article and move it intoengagement with conveyor belts 6 and 8.

After the first article has passed from sensor 30 and while the firstarticle is present at the measuring location 32, the second articlemoves past sensor 30 so that the high voltage V is applied to the inputof AND gate 114 to open it. In the same manner as the circuit componentsin block 66 functioned to apply pulses to first fold counter 72 tolocate the midpoint of the first article and fold the first article, thecircuit components in block 66 now function to locate the midpoint ofthe second article and fold it. While the second article is present atthe second sensor 30, a 10 pulse per inch pulse rate is gated throughgate 121 to the second fold counter 126 in logic block 67 so that whenthe first fold counter 74 in logic block 66 produces an output signalthe unfilled count capacity of the counter 126 is representative of theone-half length of the second article. The output signal of the timedelay means 56 which actuates the folding operation is also fed to theshift rgister 70 to shift the shift register 70 to its third state inwhich a signal is fed on output lead 117 to an input of AND gateSubsequent to its first fold, the leading edge of the 'secjond articleis positioned at the measuring location 32 in the same manner as thepreceding first article. The output signal from the time delay means 56,which substantially coincides with the positioning of the leading edgeof the second article at" measuring location 32, also turns theflip-flop 144 ON to initiate measuring control by the second fold logicand gating of the 20 pulse per inch pulse rate to'second fold counter126. In a manner similar to the operation of the second fold counter I24for the I'mtl article the second fold counter I26 resets itself to zerocount when its unfilled count capacity is filled and produces an outputsignal whichturns the flip-flop 144 OFF, shifts the shift register 122to its next stage and actuates the second fold means 39 to fold thesecond article. The shift register 122 is'now in its third state inwhich a signal is fed on output lead 169 to an input of AND gate 162open.

After the second article has moved past sensor'30 and is present atmeasuring location 32, a third article may move past sensor 30 to applythe high DC voltage V to the input of AND gate 116 to thereby open it.The shift register 70 is now in its third state in which a signal is fedon output lead 117 to AND gate 110 to maintain AND gate 110 open so thatthe 20 pulse per inch pulse rate from the generator 46 passes throughAND gates 110 and 116 to the first'fold counter 76. While the 20 pulseper inch pulse rate is applied to the counter 76, the counter 76 isproducing a pulseper inch pulse rate which is gated to the second foldcounter 128, The measuring and folding operation for the first andsecond folds of the third article then proceeds in the same manner asthe measuring and folding of the first and second articles. When themaximum count capacity of the first fold counter 76 is filled, it resetsitself to zero count and produces an output signal which is fed throughone-shot multivibrator 98 to shift register 70 to shift the shiftregister 70 back to its initial state in' which a signal is fed onoutput lead 113 to an input of AND gate 106. The second fold counter 128functions in the same manner to return the shift register 122 back toits initial state.

It will be understood that the operation of the control circuit 42 ingeneral, and the shift registers and counters in blocks 66 and 67 inparticular, is continuous sothat an unbroken series of articles may bemeasured as the shift registers shift through their states to match theproper counter with the corresponding article moving through the foldingmachine.

The front counter 58 will repeatedly accumulate a count representativeof the full length of an article and reset itself to zero count inpreparation for the next following article.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown herein, itwill be realized that'many modification thereof are feasible withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is consequentlyintended in the appended claims to cover all such variations andmodifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A control means for measuring fractional portions of the full lengthsof a succession of moving articles comprising:

drive means for moving said articles along a predetermined path;

first means responsive to the presence of a moving article at a firstlocation along its path for measuring the full length of each of saidarticles and producing output information representative of the fulllength of each article;

second means responsive to said output information and to the presenceof the same article ata second location along its path for measuring afirst fractional portion of the length of the article and producing anindication after termination of the measuring of the first fractionalportion; and

third means connected to the first means and responsive to said outputinformation for measuring a second fractional portion of the length ofeach of said'articles, said third means being responsive to saidindication of the second means to initiate measuring of the secondfractional portion of the article.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said second meansincludes time delay means for providing a time delay between thetermination of the measuring of said first fractional portion and theindicationproduced by said second means. I y

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein:

said second means produces output information representative of aportion of said first fractional portion of the length of an articlewhile said, first fractional portion is being measured at thesecondlocation; and said output information representative of a portionof said first fractional portion of the lengthiof an article is appliedto said third means and said third means is responsive thereto inmeasuring said second fractional portion of the length of the article.4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein: said first meansincludes first sensormeans positioned at said first location andconnected tosaid first means for indicating the presence of an articleat the first location; and f said second means includes second sensormeans positioned at said second location and connected to said secondmeans for indicating the presence of an article at the second location.5. In an apparatus for measuring fractional parts of the full lengths ofa succession of moving articles and including pulsing means forproviding a plurality of electrical pulse rates for each increment oflength of a moving article, an oscillator for producing high frequencyelectric pulses, a first counter responsive to electric pulses appliedthereto and having a fixed count capacity at which said first counterproduces an output signal, first counter means having at. least onepreset count capacity equal to the fixed count capacity of said firstcounter and being responsive to electric-pulses applied thereto forproducing an output signal when said preset count capacity isfilled, aplurality of sensing locations spaced apart along the path of saidmoving articles, means for applying a lower one of said electric pulserates to said first counter when a moving article is present at a firstone of said sensing locations, whereby a portion of said fixed countcapacity of the first counter proportionate to the full length ofthemoving. article is filled. means for applying the high frequencyelectric pulses from said oscillator to said first counter and saidfirst counter means until the fixed count capacity of said first counteris filled when said article passes from the first one of said sensinglocations whereby the unfilled portion of the fixed count capacity ofsaid first counter is filled and a portion of the preset count capacityof said first counter means equal to the unfilled portion of the fixedcount capacity of said first counter is filled. means for applying ahigher one of said electric pulserates to said first counter means whensaid article is present at a second one of said plurality of sensinglocations whereby the unfilled portion of the preset count capacity ofsaid first counter means is filled and said first counter means producesan output signal indicating a first measured fractional part of the fulllength of the moving article, the combination comprissaid article passesfrom the'first one of said sensing locations whereby a portion of thepreset count capacity of said second counter means equal to the unfilledportion of the fixed capacity of said first counter is filled;

said first counter means being responsive during application thereto ofthe higher electric pulse rate to produce a low electric pulse ratehaving a rateless than that of said higher electric pulse rate;

means for applying said low electricpulse rate to said second countermeans whereby a portion of the preset count capacity of said secondcounter means equal to a fraction of the portion of the preset countcapacity of the first counter means filled by said higher electric pulserate is filled;

time delay means responsive to the output signal from said first countermeans to provide a time delay and produce an output signal at the endofthe time delay indicating the position of said first measuredfractional part of the full length ofthe moving article; and

second selector means for applying the higher one of said plurality ofelectric pulse rates to said second counter means in response to theoutput signal from said time delay means whereby initiation of thefilling of the unfilled portion of the preset count capacity of saidsecond counter means substantially coincides with said positionindication of the first measured fractional part of said article by saidtime delay means, the preset count capacity of said second counter meansis filled and said second counter means produces an output signalindicating a second measured fractional part of the full length of themoving article.

6. The combination according to claim wherein:

said means for applying the low electric pulse rate to the secondcounter means includes gate means having an input and an outputconnected to said second counter means and gating the low pulse rate tothe second counter means when a signal is provided to said input; and

I said means for applying a higher one of said electric pulse rates tosaid first counter means produces an output signal to said gate meansinput while said article is present at the second sensing locationwhereby said gate means gates said low electric pulse rate to the secondcounter means while said article is present at said second sensinglocation. 7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein: said firstcounter means includes a plurality of second counters each having apreset count capacity equal to the fixed count capacity of said firstcounter; said second counter means includes a plurality of thirdcounters each having a preset count capacity equal to the fixed countcapacity of said first counter; said means for applying a higher one ofsaid electric pulse rates to said first counter means includes circuitmeans for sequentially producing a plurality of gating signals and aseparate first gate circuit for each one of said second counters, eachfirst gate circuit having an output connected to a second counter and apair of inputs respectively connected to said higher pulse rate and tosaid circuit means and sequentially gating the higher pulse rate to saidplurality of second counters in response to the gating signals from saidcircuit means; and said gate means includes a separate second gatecircuit for each one of said third counters, each second gate circuithaving an output connected to a third counter and an input connected tosaid circuit means for receiving one of said gating signals, said lowelectric pulse rate being gated to a third counter while the second gatecircuit connected to the third counter receives a gating signal at itsinput whereby said low electric pulse rate is applied to said thirdcounters for the same time period and in the same sequence as the higherpulse rate is applied to said second counters. 8. The combinationaccording to claim 6 wherein: said first counter means comprises aplurality of bits, a first one ofsaid bits having an input receivingsaid higher pulse rate and an output producing said low pulse rate whensaid higher pulse rate is applied to said first bit; and said gate meanshas another input connected to the output of said first bit whereby saidlow pulse rate is supplied to said gate means. 9. The combinationaccording to claim 5 wherein: said second selector means includes a gatecircuit having an output connected to said second counter means, a firstinput and a second input connected to said higher pulse rate; andfurther comprising flip-flop means having an output connected to saidfirst input and being responsive to the output signal from said timedelay means to provide 16 a gating signal to said gate circuit wherebysaid higher pulse rate is gated to the second counter means.

10. In an apparatus for measuring and folding successive travelingarticles and including generating means for produc- 5 ing a high and afirst low electrical pulse rate respectively proportionate to the speedof travel of said article. oscillator means for producing a very highelectrical pulse frequency. first, second and third counting means forcounting electrical pulses and respectively producing an output signalupon the counting of a predetermined number of electrical pulses by eachof said counting means, a first gating means responsive to the presenceof a traveling article at a first position along its path of travel forapplying said first low pulse rate to said first counting means, asecond gating means for applying said very high pulse frequency to saidsecond counting means when the traveling article passes from said firstposition and responsive to the presence of the same article at thesecond position along its path of travel for applying said high pulserate to said second counting means whereby the second counting meanscounts up to said predetermined number of pulses and produces an outputsignal, a third gating means for applying said very high pulse frequencyto said third counting means, a fourth gating means responsive to thepassing of the traveling article from said first position and to theoutput signal from said first counting means to gate said very highpulse frequency to said first counting means and to said second andthird gating means, first folding means responsive to a folding signalto fold said article and second folding means responsive to the outputsignal of said third counting means to fold said article a second time,the combination wherein:

said second counting means isoperative to produce a second lowelectrical pulse rate while said article is present at the secondposition and said high pulse rate is applied to the second countingmeans; and comprising fifth gating means for applying said second lowpulse rate to said third counting means;

time delay means connected to said first folding means and responsive tothe output signal from said second counting means to provide a timedelay and produce a folding signal at the end of the time delay wherebysaid first'folding means folds said article and an' edge of said foldedarticle is momentarily located at a third position along the path ofsaid article; and

a sixth gating means responsive to the folding signal from the timedelay means to gate said high pulse rate to the third counting meanswhereby said third counting means starts counting high rate pulsessubstantially when said edge of the folded article is at said thirdposition and produces an output signal to the second folding means uponthe counting of said predetermined number of pulses to cause the secondfolding operation. 1

11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein said second foldingmeans includes time delay means responsive to 55 the output signal fromthe third counting means to provide a time delay and produce an outputsignal actuating the second folding means.

12. The combination according to claim 10 wherein:

said second counting means includes a plurality of second counters eachhaving an input connected to said second gating means and producing saidsecond low pulse rate when the high pulse rate is applied to said input;

said third counting means includes a plurality of third counterscorresponding to said plurality of second counters and each having aninput for receiving said second low pulse rate and producing an outputsignal for actuating the second folding means; and i said fifth gatingmeans includes a plurality of fifth gat means corresponding to saidplurality of second and third counters, each of said fifth gate meanshaving a second input and an output respectively connected to acorresponding second and third counter for gating the second low pulserate to the connected .third counter.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said 75 second gatingmeans includes: J

a plurality of second gate means corresponding to said plurality offifth gate means and second counters, each of said second gate meanshaving a first input, a second input energized when an article ispresent at said second position and an output connected to acorresponding second counter for gating said high pulse rate to theconnected second counter when the providing of a signal to the firstinput and the energization of the second input of the second gate meanssimultaneously occur; and

first selector means having a plurality of sequentially energizedoutputs separately connected to the first inputs of a correspondingsecond gate means and fifth gate means and producing a signal to theconnected first inputs when energized whereby said high and second lowpulse rates are respectively simultaneously gated to each correspondingsecond and third counter in the sequence of energization of saidselector means outputs.

14. The combination according to claim 13 further comprisa first articlesensor located at said first position along the path of travel of saidarticles and connected to said first gating means, said first sensorproducing an output signal to the first gating means when an article ispresent at said first position to gate the first low pulserate to saidfirst counting means; and

a second article sensor located at saidsecond position along the path oftravel of said articles and connected to the second input of each of thesecond gate means, said second sensor producing an output signalenergizing the second inputs of each of the second gate means when anarticle is present at said second position.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein said sixth gatingmeans includes:

a plurality of sixth gate means corresponding to said plurality of thirdcounters. each of said sixth gate means having third and fourth inputsand an output connected to a corresponding third counter for gating saidhigh pulse rate to the connected third counter when a signal issimultaneously provided to both said third and fourth inputs;

flip-flop means having an output connected to each of the fourth inputsof gating means and a first input connected to the time delay means,said flip-flop means being responsive to the folding signal from thetime delay means to produce a continuous gating signal to all of thefourth inputs; and

second selector means having a plurality of outputs sequentiallyenergized in the same sequence asthe energization of the outputs of saidfirst selector means. each of said second selector means outputs beingconnected to a third input of a different sixth gate means and producinga gating signal to the connected third input when energized whereby saidhigh pulse rate is gated to said plurality of third counters in thesequence of energization of said second selector means outputs.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein:

said second counters have a count capacity which is filled upon thecounting of a predetermined number of electrical pulses and said secondcounters each produce an output signal when their respective countcapacities are filled; and

said first selector means is connected to each of said second countersand said first selector means outputs are sequentially energized inresponse to the output signals from said second counters whereby saidhigh and secondlow pulse rates are respectively simultaneously gated tocorresponding second and third counters in the sequence of filling ofthe count capacities of the second counters.

17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein:

said third counters have a count capacity which is filled upon thecounting of a predetermined number of electrical pulses and said thirdcounters each produce an output signal when their respective countcapacities are filled;

and said second selector means IS connected to each of said thirdcounters and said second selector means outputs are sequentiallyenergized in response to the output signals from said third counterswhereby said high pulse rate is gated to the third counters in thesequence of filling of the count capacities of the third counters.

18. The combination according'to claim 17 wherein said flip-flop meanshas a second input connected to each of said third counters forreceiving the output signals of the third counters and being responsiveto a signal at said second input to terminate production of saidcontinuous gating signal whereby the gating of the high pulse rate to athird counter is terminated.

1. A control means for measuring fractional portions of the full lengthsof a succession of moving articles comprising: drive means for movingsaid articles along a predetermined path; first means responsive to thepresence of a moving article at a first location along its path formeasuring the full length of each of said articles and producing outputinformation representative of the full length of each article; secondmeans responsive to said output information and to the presence of thesame article at a second location along its path for measuring a firstfractional portion of the length of the article and producing anindication after termination of the measuring of the first fractionalportion; and third means connected to the first means and responsive tosaid output information for measuring a second fractional portion of thelength of each of said articles, said third means being responsive tosaid indication of the second means to initiate measuring of the secondfractional portion of the article.
 2. The combination according to claim1 wherein said second means includes time delay means for providing atime delay between the termination of the measuring of said firstfractional portion and the indication produced by said second means. 3.The combination according to claim 1 wherein: said second means producesoutput information representative of a portion of said first fractionalportion of the length of an article while said first fractional portionis being measured at the second location; and said output informationrepresentative of a portion of said first fractional portion of thelength of an article is applied to said third means and said third meansis responsive thereto in measuring said second fractional portion of thelength of the article.
 4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein:said first means includes first sensor means positioned at said firstlocation and connected to said first means for indicating the presenceof an article at the first location; and said second means includessecond sensor means positioned at said second location and connected tosaid second means for indicating the presence of an article at thesecond location.
 5. In an apparatus for measuring fractional parts ofthe full lengths of a succession of moving articles and includingpulsing means for providing a plurality of electrical pulse rates foreach increment of length of a moving article, an oscillator forproducing high frequency electric pulses, a first counter responsive toelectric pulses applied thereto and having a fixed count capacity atwhich said first counter produces an output signal, first counter meanshaving at least one preset count capacity equal to the fixed countcapacity of said first counter and being responsive to electric pulsesapplied thereto for producing an output signal when said preset countcapacity is filled, a plurality of sensing locations spaced apart alongthe path of said moving articles, means for applying a lower one of saidelectric pulse rates to said first counter when a moving article ispresent at a first one of said sensing locations, whereby a portion ofsaid fixed count capacity of the first counter proportionate to the fulllength of the moving article is filled, means for applying the highfrequency electric pulses from said oscillator to said first counter andsaid first counter means until the fixed count capacity of said firstcounter is filled when said article passes from the first one of saidsensing locations whereby the unfilled portion of the fixed countcapacity of said first counter is filled and a portion of the presetcount capacity of said first counter means equal to the unfilled portionof the fixed count capacity of said first counter is filled, means forapplying a higher one of said electric pulse rates to said first countermeans when said article is present at a second one of said plurality ofsensing locations whereby the unfilled portion of the preset countcapacity of said first counter means is filled and said first countermeans produces an output signal indicating a first measured fractionalpart of the full length of the moving article, the combinationcomprising: second counter means having at least one preset countcapacity equal to the fixed count capacity of said first counter andbeing responsive to electric pulses applied thereto when said presetcount capacity is filled to produce an output signal; first selectormeans for applying the high frequency pulses from said oscillator tosaid second counter means until the fixed count capacity of said firstcounter is filled when said article passes from the first one of saidsensing locations whereby a portion of the preset count capacity of saidsecond counter means equal to the unfilled portion of the fixed capacityof said first counter is filled; said first counter means beingresponsive during application thereto of the higher electric pulse rateto produce a low electric pulse rate having a rate less than that ofsaid higher electric pulse rate; means for applying said low electricpulse rate to said second counter means whereby a portion of the presetcount capacity of said second counter means equal to a fraction of theportion of the preset count capacity of the first counter means filledby said higher electric pulse rate is filled; time delay meansresponsive to the output signal from said first counter means to providea time delay and produce an output signal at the end of the time delayindicating the position of said first measured fractional part of thefull length of the moving article; and second selector means forapplying the higher one of said plurality of electric pulse rates tosaid second counter means in response to the output signal from saidtime delay means whereby initiation of the filling of the unfilledportion of the preset count capacity of said second counter meanssubstantially coincides with said position indication of the firstmeasured fractional part of said article by said time delay means, thepreset count capacity of said second counter means is filled and saidsecond counter means produces an output signal indicating a secondmeasured fractional part of the full length of the moving article. 6.The combination according to claim 5 wherein: said means for applyingthe low electric pulse rate to the second counter means includes gatemeans having an input and an output connected to said second countermeans and gating the low pulse rate to the second counter means when asignal iS provided to said input; and said means for applying a higherone of said electric pulse rates to said first counter means produces anoutput signal to said gate means input while said article is present atthe second sensing location whereby said gate means gates said lowelectric pulse rate to the second counter means while said article ispresent at said second sensing location.
 7. The combination according toclaim 6 wherein: said first counter means includes a plurality of secondcounters each having a preset count capacity equal to the fixed countcapacity of said first counter; said second counter means includes aplurality of third counters each having a preset count capacity equal tothe fixed count capacity of said first counter; said means for applyinga higher one of said electric pulse rates to said first counter meansincludes circuit means for sequentially producing a plurality of gatingsignals and a separate first gate circuit for each one of said secondcounters, each first gate circuit having an output connected to a secondcounter and a pair of inputs respectively connected to said higher pulserate and to said circuit means and sequentially gating the higher pulserate to said plurality of second counters in response to the gatingsignals from said circuit means; and said gate means includes a separatesecond gate circuit for each one of said third counters, each secondgate circuit having an output connected to a third counter and an inputconnected to said circuit means for receiving one of said gatingsignals, said low electric pulse rate being gated to a third counterwhile the second gate circuit connected to the third counter receives agating signal at its input whereby said low electric pulse rate isapplied to said third counters for the same time period and in the samesequence as the higher pulse rate is applied to said second counters. 8.The combination according to claim 6 wherein: said first counter meanscomprises a plurality of bits, a first one of said bits having an inputreceiving said higher pulse rate and an output producing said low pulserate when said higher pulse rate is applied to said first bit; and saidgate means has another input connected to the output of said first bitwhereby said low pulse rate is supplied to said gate means.
 9. Thecombination according to claim 5 wherein: said second selector meansincludes a gate circuit having an output connected to said secondcounter means, a first input and a second input connected to said higherpulse rate; and further comprising flip-flop means having an outputconnected to said first input and being responsive to the output signalfrom said time delay means to provide a gating signal to said gatecircuit whereby said higher pulse rate is gated to the second countermeans.
 10. In an apparatus for measuring and folding successivetraveling articles and including generating means for producing a highand a first low electrical pulse rate respectively proportionate to thespeed of travel of said article, oscillator means for producing a veryhigh electrical pulse frequency, first, second and third counting meansfor counting electrical pulses and respectively producing an outputsignal upon the counting of a predetermined number of electrical pulsesby each of said counting means, a first gating means responsive to thepresence of a traveling article at a first position along its path oftravel for applying said first low pulse rate to said first countingmeans, a second gating means for applying said very high pulse frequencyto said second counting means when the traveling article passes fromsaid first position and responsive to the presence of the same articleat the second position along its path of travel for applying said highpulse rate to said second counting means whereby the second countingmeans counts up to said predetermined number of pulses and produces anoutput signal, a third gating means for applying said verY high pulsefrequency to said third counting means, a fourth gating means responsiveto the passing of the traveling article from said first position and tothe output signal from said first counting means to gate said very highpulse frequency to said first counting means and to said second andthird gating means, first folding means responsive to a folding signalto fold said article and second folding means responsive to the outputsignal of said third counting means to fold said article a second time,the combination wherein: said second counting means is operative toproduce a second low electrical pulse rate while said article is presentat the second position and said high pulse rate is applied to the secondcounting means; and comprising fifth gating means for applying saidsecond low pulse rate to said third counting means; time delay meansconnected to said first folding means and responsive to the outputsignal from said second counting means to provide a time delay andproduce a folding signal at the end of the time delay whereby said firstfolding means folds said article and an edge of said folded article ismomentarily located at a third position along the path of said article;and a sixth gating means responsive to the folding signal from the timedelay means to gate said high pulse rate to the third counting meanswhereby said third counting means starts counting high rate pulsessubstantially when said edge of the folded article is at said thirdposition and produces an output signal to the second folding means uponthe counting of said predetermined number of pulses to cause the secondfolding operation.
 11. A combination according to claim 10 wherein saidsecond folding means includes time delay means responsive to the outputsignal from the third counting means to provide a time delay and producean output signal actuating the second folding means.
 12. The combinationaccording to claim 10 wherein: said second counting means includes aplurality of second counters each having an input connected to saidsecond gating means and producing said second low pulse rate when thehigh pulse rate is applied to said input; said third counting meansincludes a plurality of third counters corresponding to said pluralityof second counters and each having an input for receiving said secondlow pulse rate and producing an output signal for actuating the secondfolding means; and said fifth gating means includes a plurality of fifthgate means corresponding to said plurality of second and third counters,each of said fifth gate means having a second input and an outputrespectively connected to a corresponding second and third counter forgating the second low pulse rate to the connected third counter.
 13. Thecombination according to claim 12 wherein said second gating meansincludes: a plurality of second gate means corresponding to saidplurality of fifth gate means and second counters, each of said secondgate means having a first input, a second input energized when anarticle is present at said second position and an output connected to acorresponding second counter for gating said high pulse rate to theconnected second counter when the providing of a signal to the firstinput and the energization of the second input of the second gate meanssimultaneously occur; and first selector means having a plurality ofsequentially energized outputs separately connected to the first inputsof a corresponding second gate means and fifth gate means and producinga signal to the connected first inputs when energized whereby said highand second low pulse rates are respectively simultaneously gated to eachcorresponding second and third counter in the sequence of energizationof said selector means outputs.
 14. The combination according to claim13 further comprising: a first article sensor located at said firstposition along the path of travel of said articles and connected to saidfirst gating means, saiD first sensor producing an output signal to thefirst gating means when an article is present at said first position togate the first low pulse rate to said first counting means; and a secondarticle sensor located at said second position along the path of travelof said articles and connected to the second input of each of the secondgate means, said second sensor producing an output signal energizing thesecond inputs of each of the second gate means when an article ispresent at said second position.
 15. The combination according to claim14 wherein said sixth gating means includes: a plurality of sixth gatemeans corresponding to said plurality of third counters, each of saidsixth gate means having third and fourth inputs and an output connectedto a corresponding third counter for gating said high pulse rate to theconnected third counter when a signal is simultaneously provided to bothsaid third and fourth inputs; flip-flop means having an output connectedto each of the fourth inputs of gating means and a first input connectedto the time delay means, said flip-flop means being responsive to thefolding signal from the time delay means to produce a continuous gatingsignal to all of the fourth inputs; and second selector means having aplurality of outputs sequentially energized in the same sequence as theenergization of the outputs of said first selector means, each of saidsecond selector means outputs being connected to a third input of adifferent sixth gate means and producing a gating signal to theconnected third input when energized whereby said high pulse rate isgated to said plurality of third counters in the sequence ofenergization of said second selector means outputs.
 16. The combinationaccording to claim 15 wherein: said second counters have a countcapacity which is filled upon the counting of a predetermined number ofelectrical pulses and said second counters each produce an output signalwhen their respective count capacities are filled; and said firstselector means is connected to each of said second counters and saidfirst selector means outputs are sequentially energized in response tothe output signals from said second counters whereby said high andsecond low pulse rates are respectively simultaneously gated tocorresponding second and third counters in the sequence of filling ofthe count capacities of the second counters.
 17. The combinationaccording to claim 16 wherein: said third counters have a count capacitywhich is filled upon the counting of a predetermined number ofelectrical pulses and said third counters each produce an output signalwhen their respective count capacities are filled; and said secondselector means is connected to each of said third counters and saidsecond selector means outputs are sequentially energized in response tothe output signals from said third counters whereby said high pulse rateis gated to the third counters in the sequence of filling of the countcapacities of the third counters.
 18. The combination according to claim17 wherein said flip-flop means has a second input connected to each ofsaid third counters for receiving the output signals of the thirdcounters and being responsive to a signal at said second input toterminate production of said continuous gating signal whereby the gatingof the high pulse rate to a third counter is terminated.